TOE and the end of physics

Hey.
I've heard from several physicists that in the next few years, physics might come to an end after completion of the theory of everything and that basically, there's not going to be anything new to research in physics.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think such a theory is possible? Are we close to formulating it and will it indeed end physics?

Even if a "theory of everything" was created (meaning some equation that governs all fundamental interactions), there are still lots of issues with how that relates to larger scale phenomena. For example, General Relativity describes gravity very accurately, but you still have entire journals dedicated to applications of the EFEs in different theoretical cosmic situations.

Even if we find a Theory of Everything in the next couple years it will definitely not be the end of physics. It will just provide us with a consistent frame to work with. There are endless applications that will require physicists and engineers to design/test/model, etc. etc. etc.

Even if we find a Theory of Everything in the next couple years it will definitely not be the end of physics. It will just provide us with a consistent frame to work with. There are endless applications that will require physicists and engineers to design/test/model, etc. etc. etc.

Well, definitely not engineers but will there be a use for theoretical physicists?

Well, definitely not engineers but will there be a use for theoretical physicists?

Sure! Why not? Not everyone is going to have the brains to understand and interpret the theory of everything. If String Theory and LQG are any indicators as to what the language of the TOE might be in then we're definitely going to need Mathematical/Theoretical Physicists around to interpret and improve upon the theory.

There is also the problem of HOW we can apply the new Theory of Everything. We can easily state once we've found it that yes we know how everything works!! But how can we take that and apply it to something that might be of some use to society. As I have already stated the language of the TOE will be very complex and I feel like what we now call theoretical physicists will be the ones who step in and suggest ideas of how to employ it.

I see. Thanks for the answers.
All I can say is I hope they won't find it. It'll suck if we'll just know how the universe works and end of story.
It's this little contradiction of scientifically minded people that we want to know, and yet we never want to know everything so that there's always something new to discover.

Hey.
I've heard from several physicists that in the next few years, physics might come to an end after completion of the theory of everything and that basically, there's not going to be anything new to research in physics.

What are your thoughts on the matter? Do you think such a theory is possible? Are we close to formulating it and will it indeed end physics?

Well, I wasn't taking the term 'theory of everything' literally of course. I was specifically asking if the discovery of it would result in the end of the science of physics, and also how likely we are to see this theory anytime soon.

Well, I wasn't taking the term 'theory of everything' literally of course. I was specifically asking if the discovery of it would result in the end of the science of physics, and also how likely we are to see this theory anytime soon.

But isn't THAT the whole implication of this TOE being the "end of physics"? That someone thinks that after such discovery, no more new and interesting stuff are left?

So yes, it is literally THE theory of everything! And that is a fallacy.